Guccy: Well, perfect summary of what is going on! ;)

Chipo: So, this may be late in the evening, but I still did it before midnight so, we can say that I completed the challenge!

7DeadlySins: Always interesting to learn your strong opinions about the characters!XD Calypso is really a complexe character to pull off. Still not sure I am making truly justice to what I envisioned her to be but I am trying. And don't worry if you rant from time to time. Really not mad about it!XD

Guest: Spicy is an understatement.^^"

Thank you for your reviews!

Chapter 36: Odysseus

Delphina had one thought: What should she do?!

She was one-hundred percent certain she hadn't been touched by the sunlight so Apollo couldn't be there to take her away. But if he knew for the presence of Odysseus right here with her sister and therefore with her… She couldn't blame him for his protectiveness when she was still fragile and knowing what happened ten years ago!

Around her, there was nobody. Calypso went back to bed with her lover and the nymphs were still sleeping. This reassured her, it was only between her and him.

"Apollo… I…"

"Follow me. The carriage is ready. We are going home."

She was tempted to become irritated by this inappropriate authority. Yet, she couldn't dismiss the noticeable worry in his tone. He was acting out of panic.

But she couldn't leave yet. "Apollo, no! I'm staying! Listen to me at least!"

She expected him to be forceful. To only obey to his own instinct. Yet, he did stop to listen to her. With all his will since he was fuming inside out.

"My sister needs me. I must stay here for her. I must repair what we used to have together. Please understand."

"But he is there! How can I trust him being around you once more?!"

His tone scared Delphina who feared he would kill the man on sight. She had to clear the things in his mind. "Apollo, listen to me. I warn you. You hurt Odysseus, you hurt my sister. You hurt my sister, you hurt me."

The statement managed to calm him down…a little. He still eyed the depth of the cave, knowing who was hidden there. Yet, he acknowledged she had a good point.

He was anxious. Profoundly anxious. His anger towards Odysseus didn't control him as much as his concern for her did. He was a man who had seen the woman he loved leave him for many years when she had just admitted her feelings for him. He only got the hoped reconciliation after she committed a mistake that made go through a serious mental break down. So serious, she had disappearing for ten years without giving any news about where she was. At last, she managed to get out of her shell and to reunite only to step back once again to join her sister who had entered a relationship with the same man who had pushed her to do the mistake responsible for her mental mess.

No wonder Apollo was on the edge to become crazy.

She took his face between her hands to force him to look at her. "I will be fine." She promised.

"How long before you are totally fine?"

"I… I don't know."

How could she even anticipate what would happen next? Was she staying in order to make sure Odysseus truly loved her sister? And if her worst suspicions were confirmed, what would she do? Her sister would not listen and Delphina couldn't even dare to do anything to break her fragile heart. Not after she had hurt her by forgetting about her existence. No, she was powerless to do anything. And it wasn't like Odysseus would be able to leave...

Wait!

She needed to know something. "Can I ask something?"

"Anything you want."

"You know that Odysseus has a wife and a son. One of the reasons why he resigned himself to stay here is that he is convinced that his family has forgotten him. Is it true? Has his wife remarried? Is his son raised by another man?"

As the God of Truth and the God of sun, he had to know. He closed his eyes then, he responded. "Penelope is constantly courted by many pretendants that want to take the throne of Ithaca. But she is smart just like her husband. She is finding many ways to deceive them. Like she promised them that she would make her choice only after she finished a shroud but she is always undoing a part during the night to make the task endless. For her son, Telemachus, he has recently left his home in search for his father whom he has faith remains alive and would like to bring him back home."

More details were unneeded. A loyal family was waiting out there. A man who had lost all hope had a chance to go back home.

And her sister will be left alone once again.

She put her hand on her chest as her heart began to hurt, like a knife that menaced to cut her breath. This dilemma challenged her deepest morals.

Could she tell the truth to Odysseus and risking breaking the heart of her sister? Or let her continue living in a love that sounded devoid of sincerity but still managed to maintain her well-being in a higher state?

Could she let Odysseus believe that he had been forgotten when it wasn't the truth? With everything he had done at Troy, did he even deserve this happiness? On the other side, Achilles had done worse and she learned to give him a second chance. How could she not do the same for this other hero?

On the other side, she should show consideration for Penelope and Telemachus. They were innocent and deserved to get their cherished one back home. Calypso couldn't keep this family separated forever, right?

Then, what's next? Once Odysseus is sailing back to his island, could Delphina has the selfishness to go back with Apollo while leaving her sister lonely and feeling unloved? How long would she need to stay with her until she regained her confidence so she could be free to return to Delphi?

Her whole universe crumbled once again. Her fear to take the wrong decision ate all of her energy. Were the Fates sending her a test to know if she deserved to get back her powers?

Trapped in her conflictual thoughts, she suddenly felt Apollo's body surrounding her and offering a hug. The comfort she needed. She put her own arms around her torso and his beating heart rocked her soul. Somehow, she wished he would take her away against her will. It would be so much simpler to pretend she had been forced to justify any more mistake but again, that would be cowardice. And she appreciated Apollo's willingness to let her decide.

"What would you do if you were in my place?" She asked.

"I am clearly not the person to seek advice for this kind of matter. I did hurt my own twin sister so much I wish I could change the past."

"I know." She sighed. "I'm sorry. But I cannot leave yet. I need to reflect on what to do."

"Are you sure there isn't anything I can do to help you?"

She stared attentively at Apollo. Rare were the occasions where she could observe so much despair in his eyes. He reached a point where he had no clue about what to do. He just wanted to do the right thing.

Sadly, she couldn't give him the reassurance he probably sought. "I'm sorry. This is too much delicate. I think it is better for you to stay out of this affair. I will reflect about it but my sister needs me."

Before Apollo could protest, she pursued. "I promise to call you if I ever need a shoulder to relieve my stress on. I will try to not put too much pressure on me. I trust you and I need you to trust me. I am not rejecting you once again."

"I know." He will wait. He could do it all the time as long her love was secured.

She kissed him on the mouth. "Thank you."

…

Apollo drove his chariot at a slower pace than usual. He was in no hurry to go back home. For what? Seeing his palace full of people and yet still empty? To say hello again to the loneliness? No, he would rather enjoy a good and quiet ride in the sky.

Delphina dominated his mind like always. He tried to figure out the tricky situation as if he could miraculously find an issue.

He thought. He thought. He thought.

Only a blank space in his mind. He could only fill it in with frustration!

"Hey! How are you, brother?"

This was the moment Hermes chose to show off, flying beside him. This god should learn to detect his bad mood and avoid annoying him for his own preservation.

He went direct. "Go away! I want to be alone!"

"Ho! I hope that you and Delphina didn't fight again?"

"We didn't. And even if we did, this is not your freaking business."

"Here I thought I could help you. I had in mind a solution to resolve your problem. But I would not insert myself more in your matters."

Only the wind could be heard for a big moment before Apollo give in. "Fine, talk."

"You could ask me more nicely, you know."

"I could also tell Father about all the tricks…"

"Fine! You win. I will talk. Well, you know that Athena favors Odysseus, right?"

"Continue."

"Well. If you had paid any attention for the last reunion of the twelve Olympian, you would have known that she is championing for her protégé to be sent back to his home. Knowing how much Father is fond of her, she will probably win her cause. That means Odysseus will be able to leave Calypso very soon to return to his home. Isn't nice? Delphina would be freed of her dilemma."

"Only from this dilemma. I need to release her from her guilt toward her sister. From what I know they used to be very close. I cannot force her to separate from her twin. Their common past may even be the key for Delphina to regain her lost powers."

"Indeed, this is a highly delicate situation." Then, Hermes smiled. "Luckily for you, I may have the solution for this problem."

Sometimes, Apollo truly loved his brother. "Go ahead. I will do anything for her."

"I hope so, because it will not be easy. You will have to use all of your influence on Father to get what you want… And he might be not pleased with your request."

Now, this invoked his curiosity. What was Hermes's idea? "I'm listening."

…

A few days passed since Delphina's arrival on Ogygia island. Honestly, it felt more like a few weeks. Calypso was merely tolerating her presence. They got a routine. They woke up and they ate breakfast before her sister went outside with Odysseus. Delphina stayed at the grotto, knowing what would happen if she exposed herself to the sun. Too soon yet.

Once they came back, it was time to eat. Casual discussion was exchanged but nothing more. Delphina was a third wheel who wondered why she stayed here but at least she was tolerated. She couldn't even dare to bring on more serious discussions. She still didn't make up her mind about whether telling the truth to Odysseus or not. She feared making the wrong decision. People might accuse her to be too hard on herself, but right now she couldn't bear committing any more mistake.

Tonight, she went outside to take a walk on the beach. She had to clear her ideas and solitary time spent outside was healthy. The sky was beautiful. She decided to sit on the sand near the waves illuminated by the stars.

She looked at her legs. It had been a while since she attempted it. Why not try it again?

She transformed her legs only to get her blue fish-like tail. She looked at the sky. No change. Nothing. She remained a lost case.

She attempted to suppress the pressure in her throat menacing to implode. So here she was? She had both lost her powers and her sister. Well, at least, Apollo had remained loyal to her?

Apollo

She missed him. What would she give to be in his arms right now? To receive his comfort and forget about everything else? She hadn't realised how much she had suffered by denying her feelings for so long, masking them with her hatred. How had she managed to not turn crazy? Now that she had accepted to give him her heart, the longing was even stronger. She watched Calypso and Odysseus cuddled together everyday when she couldn't do the same. She couldn't escape some jealousy at the view. Yet, she felt guilty of knowing that Apollo's heart was entirely hers (probably since his birth). Inversely, Calypso would lose Odysseus once he will know his wife had remained faithful to him and still waited for him.

When will he know? Will she dare to be the one to break this fragile love nest?

Her solitary therapy ended when she heard steps approaching her. "May I join you?" Odysseus said.

It would be the first time that she and the man would be truly alone together. It didn't happen since… Well, the story was long but pretty known right now.

"You can." She sounded like she didn't care when in reality, she was deep scared. What in Tartarus were they going to say to each other?

He sat beside her. "Delphina." He began nervously. "I feel like I owe you a big apology for what I did ten years ago. I shouldn't have betrayed your trust. I involved you in this conflict and I ruined your reputation. You suffered a lot because of this and you lost your powers. Every time people told me they hadn't seen a dolphin for a while, the shame devoured me even more. I am so glad to be able to excuse myself."

"No." She didn't want to sound cold, but she did.

"No? What do you mean?"

"It is not me that you hurt the most." She said while turning to him, not afraid to confront him face to face.

Like a dam with a fissure that expanded, his emotional turmoil reached the surface and shamefully exposed him. He had nothing more to lose. He trembled. "I am a failure!"

The word scrapped a sensible nerve of hers. One that had haunted her too much for the last decade… Someone else had shared the same struggle in a different way.

"I don't blame you for judging me. My whole life is a mess! I only do mistakes and hurt people. When I was young, I wanted to be a hero just like Heracles, Perseus and Theseus. Accomplishing great exploits and being celebrated for many years beyond. Then, just like most kings I was called as a potential suitor for Helen of Sparta. When I met her cousin, Penelope… From that moment, all I wanted was simply be with her, raise a family and rule a happy kingdom."

The contrary of Achilles who chose glory and changed his mind only when it was too late.

"You know what I did with the oath of Tyndareus. Never could I have predicted that indeed Helen would get someday kidnapped. In my mind, it was a good idea and a way to convince the King of Sparta to give me the hand of Penelope. But this oath is the reason why all of Greece was implicated in this war. I involved everyone in this. I was responsible for the insane scale of this conflict. People died because of me. Children grew up without their father because of me, including my own son. After the death of Achilles and the huge impasse we were going through, I knew I had to do something to get out from this mess. I made the reason why we all had to go there so I would make all of us go back home."

She looked hardly at him. She prepared herself for his explanation for this part of the story.

"I know. I don't deserve your sympathy. In order to put an end to this war, I tricked people and destroyed an entire city. I made you believe that innocents would be spared. That Troy would be left alone. I abused of your trust and dared to use your influence for my own ends… And I fooled myself into thinking I would not be affected by my actions. I was overconfident in my stoicism."

"What do you mean?" She lowered her guards. She missed being compassionate. Keeping grudge was exhausting.

"Hector had a son. A baby."

She remembered. "I saw you that day." No need to give the images back to her head with great descriptions.

Odysseus replied. "I didn't want to. I despised men killing children without any remorse. I saw Andromache's eyes, begging me to give him back to her. To spare his life. But everyone around told me that maintaining an heir of Troy alive was dangerous. Allowing the toddler to grow would give him a chance to avenge his father by killing us."

"And you were convinced by their argument?"

"More tired of arguing. Still… Letting this child fall from the cliff, I remembered that he was the same age than my son the last time I saw him. Now, he is a grown man. What would he think of his father? Would he see the man who had helped Troy to win the war? Or will he be mature enough to see the real coward who had no shame condemning a whole nation just to get back to his family."

In some ways, he was very different form Achilles, Delphina admitted. Her adoptive nephew had been ruthless in his treatment of his enemies. His moral code had been blinded by his lust for glory and fame. He only matured lately.

Like a madman, Odysseus began to laugh. "Ironically, I never came back home! I angered Poseidon and I faced so many trials. A cyclops, sirens, a sea monster, a witch, a voyage to the Underworld… All my men died on the road and here I am, still alive. Well, you may say that the gods punished me very well. Twenty years later, I am stuck here and my family probably thinks I am dead, so why believing? I resigned myself to my fate… Then, there is your sister."

Now, she was worried. "I need you to be honest about something." She interrupted. "Do you love my sister?"

He looked at her and replicated her seriousness. "Yes. I do. Just not as much as I do love Penelope."

Just like she suspected. "Then, why?"

"I just want you to know that I have never made any attempt to seduce her. She fell in love with me from the beginning. I tried to push her away, making clear to her that I was married but at the moment she found me, I was tired, injured and mentally distressed. Why would you want me to do? Refusing her help when I was at my lowest? By the way, I am a mortal and she is not. I learned a long time ago the danger of provoking someone of your kind."

"I can understand the beginning… But then, seven years passed."

Odysseus made a pause. Then, after reflection, he asked. "There was something I wanted to ask. After… After what I have done ten years ago, what happened to you? They said that you disappeared. Also…" He looked at her tail and she understood what he meant.

She was comfortable enough to share the truth. "What if I tell you that I suspected that you attempted to trick me? Because I did. I met someone with the gift of prophecy that warned me that if I didn't leave Troy, then, something terrible would happen that would change my image into a monster. When you suggested me to play a role in your subterfuge, my gut warned me that it sounded way too strange. As the great-grandson of Hermes, the trickster god, you were certainly good at deception. I should have refused your request but I ignored it…because I was mad at someone and wanted to hurt him. I used the fact that I could pass for a victim as you lied to me but the truth hit me too much. I was smarter than you thought but I let my pride took over my concern for people during that night."

She looked at her blue fish-like tail. "I betrayed who I was. Or more who I wanted to be. So, I snapped and ran away in the abyss of the sea."

"I'm sorry. Please, don't be hard on yourself. I am the real monster in this story."

"You are funny. There is more than that and you know it… I forgot about my sister. That part is true."

"She doesn't hate you. Let me tell you that. She has difficulty expressing her emotions and she has the bad habit of hiding herself but she does love you. I think she is mostly afraid. Afraid of being vulnerable. Seeing you once again scared her. If she is cold to you, I believe it is simply her way to protect her feelings and avoid being hurt."

She is afraid of the moment I will abandon her once again and don't want to get any false hope. Delphina wanted to cry. She had no clue what to do. "I cannot believe that in seven years, you learned more about her than I did in centuries."

"Well, in order to earn my reputation of the cleverest mortal, I had to learn to read the mind of people so I could predict their reaction."

"So, you know that if you ever go back home, you will break her heart." She said, not afraid to be blunt.

At this statement, Odysseus was mute. Delphina had caught him red-handed. "I am aware that I am far from the most loyal sister. But I never abuse of the sympathy of anyone for my own gain."

"You are right." He confessed. "I have to admit. I know that I should have kept refusing her advances, not only by consideration for her feelings but also by loyalty for Penelope. Although I had already crossed that line with Circe, I swore to be a better husband and not repeat that mistake. But time passed. I grew closer to your twin and my hope of ever returning home decreased. Your sister is a good person and she provided all the care that I needed. Both physically and mentally." He sighed. "I know this is no excuse. I only committed more mess for my own gain."

Delphina didn't know what to think of Odysseus. If she had learned one thing in the more recent years is that people were complicated, both mortal and immortal. Nothing was truly black and white. Delphina always wanted to do what was good, but she faced so many situations where her morals got disturbed. She always prided herself to be above others when it came to compassion with a false sense of humility.

Now, confusion always dominated and she had no clue about who she was and what she should do.

She began to think that Odysseus felt exactly the same through his journey and toward his numerous questionable decisions.

But now, this was about Calypso. Maybe she will regret it, but she will be honest about that detail. "There is something that you need to know."

She told him about how his wife had remained loyal to him, using trick to push away the potential suitors and how his son was traveling to search for him.

He deserved the truth… And she needed to see his reaction toward it.

He froze. Paralysed, muted, weakened. An eternity passed until he whispered. "I betrayed my wife when she… I lost hope when my son…" He seemed about to lose it. He had learned to make peace with some facts. Now, the facts were changed.

"Odysseus…" What could she say?

Then, they heard a scream. They both recognized it and reacted the same way. "Calypso!"

They ran back to the grotto. They expected to see Calypso having been accidentally hurt or just freaking worried after waking up and seeing both of them absent.

What a surprise to find Hermes with her instead. All serious, he faced her twin while covered her mouth with her hands and appeared highly distressed.

"Hermes, what are you doing here?" Delphina requested to know.

At the mention of the name, she heard Odysseus gasping. After all, he was meeting for the first time his divine great grandfather. On the other side, Hermes kept his cool and turned to them seriously. He spoke. "My father, Zeus, has ordered Calypso to free you, Odysseus. You are now allowed to go back to your home with the blessing of the King of the Gods."

"No!" Calypso screamed.

She ran to her lover, hugged him so tightly as if he would disappear in the next second. She breathed terror and anxiety. "Don't listen to him! You must stay with me! I am the one who cares for you the most! Don't forget what we shared together for the last twenty years! I can make you immortal if only you will allow me! Please!"

Hermes intervened. "Dear Aunt, his wife and son are waiting for him. You cannot keep for yourself somebody who is already married in particular against his will."

The comment made her snap. She turned to the Messenger God and retorted. "Shut up! First, don't call me aunt! Second, you gods are very hypocrite! You often take mortal women as lovers without caring if they are married or not! You are yourself a bastard. And often, you take them forcefully and just for your own gain without any consideration for their feelings. So, why me, a female, couldn't do the same?!"

Calypso didn't seem to realize that she was admitting out loud the she had indeed kept Odysseus in any wicked way she could. The concerned one didn't blink an eye at the revelation. Certainly, he had suspected it a long time ago anyway. Still, very worrisome how desperate Calypso had fallen.

The hero touched her wrist. No anger. Only regret. This was far from easy for him. "Calypso… I'm sorry. But I cannot stay here. You must let me go."

"Why? Why would you go back there? Were you not happy with me?"

He hugged her tightly. There was still love…but not equal in intensity.

They were the last words Delphina would hear in the night. Her following dreams would be haunted by the restless cries of her sister.

The next morning, Calypso provided a boat for Odysseus.

…

Calypso watched the boat still visible at the horizon. For an hour she had stayed there, looking at the object transporting her beloved far away from her until it definitively disappeared from her sight. All that time, she had remained silent.

Delphina hid herself in the shadow of the entrance of the grotto, away from the sun but still observing the scene.

She had no clue what would happen to Odysseus once he will be back home. Will he dare to tell his wife the truth about his cheating? Will he have the will to remain a strong king after all the mess he had been going through? Will he be seen a hero by mortals?

Also, did Delphina truly forgive him? She wanted to say yes and no. To be fair, she didn't even want to think further on this matter. She desired to forget everything about Odysseus and keep going on with her life. So much simpler.

But then, Calypso remained.

The boat had crossed the horizon. The nymph turned around and slowly returned to her home.

At her approach, the servants stepped back. A halo of coldness surrounded their mistress scaring away any living being on her way. Her presence commanded to not approach her at any cost. Her current mood seemed highly unpredictable. One step and another step, she entered her bedroom. No word, no sound.

Delphina swallowed her saliva. She followed her twin into the bedroom. Inside, the blankets on the mattress were left as a mess. Some masculine clothes could still be found on the floor. So many corners were now empty.

Calypso sat down on her chair and faced her mirror. "Calypso?" Delphina murmured. "I'm sorry." Please, let me help you.

"Go." A weak voice resonated. "Go join Apollo. You can leave me."

The goddess would have preferred anger over this sadness. "I am not leaving."

"You will eventually." She touched her image on the mirror. "Everybody does. I am never important enough no matter what I do. I am worthless. I am forgettable. What will they say about me? I will be known through history as the lustful nymph who kept prisoner a man separated from his wife. They will badmouth about me for centuries. The villain, not the one deserving of a happy ending. You have done amazing things through your life. What about me? I am nothing. I have developed great powers but for no end. Nobody truly notices me."

The first tear fell. "I loved Odysseus. But what I did was wrong. I lied to myself to mask my selfishness but I never stopped to manipulate him. I tried to win his heart unfairly. At some point, I even believed my own lies. I should have known that he would leave one of those days. How stupid I was! He must hate me now! I am a monster!"

"Don't say that."

She smashed the mirror. "I wish you never offered me immortality with you! Eternity really sucks! It sucks when you are lonely! I don't want it anymore!"

"Calypso!"

"No! Leave me alone!" She stood up and stormed outside her room running in the grotto, knowing her twin would not follow her in the sunlight.

Delphina pursued her. She would not give up on her sister! "Calypso!" She will help her. She will stay with her as long as possible. By the gods, what should she do?! "Come back!"

Calypso almost reached the exit when a shadow emerged.

She hit it and stepped back in confusion. She was not hurt but frustrated that somebody had blocked her path. Who he or she was? The silhouette approached and could be distinguished.

It was a man.

For a moment, Calypso seemed frozen. She was bursting in tears but the confusion at the appearance of this strange person distracted her. Then, the man opened his arms warmly as an invitation. Somehow, her instinct told her to trust him and she throwed herself into this embrace.

When Delphina arrived and saw the scene… What?

She saw a big and muscular man she had never seen before. He displayed a long brown beard and seemed very ancient. His build was very imposing. He looked strong and dominant. She had rarely seen muscles so much developed. Not even Heracles would compare. She would dislike to mess with this guy.

Yet, here he was…comforting her sister?

She shook her head. What was happening? Who was this man coming out from nowhere? Did Calypso know him? She acted like she did. She even felt jealous that this random stranger would earn the honor to give her comfort just by showing off when she, her own twin, got rejected.

Then, she looked attentively at him. Why did he seem…familiar? Like he evoked a deep picture erased from her earliest memories. The more she observed him the more she felt a unexplainable feeling of closeness to him. Did Calypso get that weird impression as well?

The man rose his eyes to meet hers.

For the first time ever, Delphina felt like a baby once again. She had met this man before. Briefly a long time ago. She had been too small to remember very well but now everything seemed evident.

But how was he even here? Technically, it was impossible!

But here he was for real.

"Father."

Thank you for reading!

I am going to be quite honest. I am very unsure about this chapter. I wrote the actions that I planned but I am so unsure about the execution. I worry that I didn't offer the best chapter that I could. Damn, why Calypso and Odysseus have to be such difficult characters?!

Anyway, I am very excited about writing the next chapter. But you will have to wait a long time once again. I am moving next july so I will probably be very busy and have less free time to write. But I will try to update in july as much as I can. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

I hope you enjoyed it.

See you soon!